Aquatic sediment and pollution monitor

ABSTRACT

An aquatic sediment and pollution monitor adapted to be positioned in a body of water comprising an elongated, vertically alignable, collecting tube having an open upper end and a closed lower end for collecting, over a long period of time, the natural materials and polluting substances that accumulate in the body of water. A generally funnel-shaped magnifying cone is positioned with the small diameter end thereof extending into the open end of the collecting tube to magnify the amount of sediment and pollution collected. A baffle is positioned in the magnifying cone adjacent the large diameter end thereof for minimizing turbulence in the collecting tube and for preventing entrance thereinto of large organisms. Means are also provided for automatically marking, at regular intervals, the quantity of sediment and pollution accumulated in the collecting tube during such intervals.

@Jnited States Patent 91 Anderson 1 AQUATIC SEDIMENT AND POLLUTIONMONITOR [58] Field of Search ..73/6l R, 170 A, 170 R, 171,

[56] I References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,841,012 I 7/1958 Romer..73/425.4 R X 3,296,858 1/1967 Doury et a1 ..73/l7l X PrimaryExaminer-Louis J. Capozi Assistant Examiner-Joseph W. RoskosAttorney;Philip M. Hinderstein 1 Feb. 13-, 1973 5 7 ABSTRACT Anaquaticsediment and pollution monitor adapted to be positioned in a body ofwater comprising an elongated, vertically alignable, collecting tubehaving an open upper end and a closed lower end for collecting, over along period of time, the natural materials and polluting substances thataccumulate in the body of water. A generally funnel-shaped magnifyingcone is positioned with the small diameter end thereof extending intothe open end of the collecting tube to magnify the amount of sedimentand pollution collected. A baffle is positioned in the magnifying coneadjacent the large diameter end thereof for minimizing turbulence in thecollecting tube and for preventing entrance thereinto of largeorganisms. Means are also provided for automatically marking, at regularintervals, the quantity of sediment and pollution accumulated in thecollecting tube during such intervals.

15 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures PATENTEDFEBIEIISYS 3,715,913

SHEET 30F 3 T/M/A G MECK/l/V/SM INVENTOR. R065? x ANDERSON AQUATICSEDIMENT AND POLLUTION MONITOR BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION ried intolakes, reservoirs, lagoons, bays, estuaries and the oceans. Suchmaterials generally remain suspended for some period of time, aresometimesacted upon by organisms within the water body and eventuallysettle to the bottom of the water body. Some of these substances, suchas phosphate, nitrate, mercury, lead, DDT, PCB, as well as somebacteria, are known to have a harmful effect on the life or condition ofthe water body. Also, by accumulating in the tissues of fish or otherorganisms, such substances may also have a harmful effect on human life.

The amount of potentially harmful substances that is accumulating in thewater bodies of the world is creat ing a serious pollution problem,whose magnitude is so great that many independent scientists and privateand governmental institutions have called for regular programsof-sampling and monitoring aquatic sediment and pollution to determinethe level of pollution and to detect changes in the volume or rate ofpollution. See, for example, the chapter on monitoring in the report ofthe Study of Critical Environmental Problems in Mans Impact on theGlobal Environment, MIT Press, 1970.

, Present aquatic sampling and monitoring systems have many problemsassociated therewith. The most common technique for the periodicsampling of water and suspended matter makes use of plankton nets andsampling bottles. The collected material is returned to thelaboratoryfor analysis by standard chemical and biological methods. However, suchdirect water sampling has several serious limitations and disadvantagesassociated therewith. In the first instance, such techniques requirefrequent trips to the collecting site which isoften in a remote localityor is accessible only after considerable travel by boat. Anotherdisadvantage is that the material obtained during such trips representsthe condition of the water body only at the moment it is sampled andsuch techniques do not provide a continuous record.

A few reported measuring or monitoring studies have placed a collectingbox or bottle directly on the bottom of a water body or suspended from acable or frame. Such collecting device is then recovered after a shortperiod of time, generally after one month. While this technique permitsa continuous record, it requires large containers and frequent visits tothe collecting site. In addition, the material collected is generallyonly a thin film on the bottom of the collecting vessel, which film iseasily disturbed by organisms, such as fish.

Attempts have also been made to use funnels to mag-- nify the rate ofaccumulation of aquatic sediment and pollution. However, these attemptshave been generally unsatisfactory because turbulence caused by currentsin the-water body enters the large opening provided by the funnel anddisturbs and distorts the quantity of material entering the collectingvessel. In addition, the accumulated material is susceptible to. beingacted upon by organisms that scavenge and burrow and mix the material sothat the time relationships are destroyed. Finally,this method has thedisadvantage of requiring frequent trips to the collecting site.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention,there isprovided an aquatic sediment and pollution monitor which overcomes allof the problems discussed above with respect to prior art systems.According to the present invention, a collecting vessel is adapted to bepositioned in a body of water and left there for a substantial period oftime, thereby eliminating the necessity for frequent trips to thecollecting site. In addition, by leaving a collecting vessel in thewater body for a long period of time, the material obtained provides acontinuous record of substances accumulating in the water body. Thepresent structure includes, in addition to the collecting vessel,apparatus for magnifying the rate of accumulation of materials as wellas apparatus for minimizing turbulence in the collecting vessel and forpreventing entrance into the collecting vessel of large organisms. As aresult, the material collected represents an accurate sample of sedimentand pollution in the water body. Also, the present collecting andmonitoring system incorporates a dispensing device for automaticallymarking, at regular intervals, the quantity of sediment accumulated inthe collecting vessel during such intervals. Accordingly, the presentdevice makes it possible to establish automated monitoring stations inmany water bodies and permits the identification of the rate ofpollution as well as the general condition or health of the water body.

Briefly, the present aquatic sediment and pollution monitor which isadapted to be positioned in a body of water comprises an elongated,vertically alignable, collecting tube having an open upper end and aclosed lower end for collecting, over a long period of time, the naturalmaterials and polluting substances that accumulate in the body of water.A generally funnel-shaped magnifying cone is positioned with the smalldiameter end thereof extending into the open end of the collecting tubeto magnify the amount of sediment and pollution collected. A baffle ispositioned in the magnifying cone adjacent the large diameter endthereof for minimizing turbulence in the collecting tube and forpreventing entrance thereinto of large organisms. Means are alsoprovided for automatically marking, at regular intervals, the quantityof sediment and pollution accumulated in the collecting tube during suchintervals.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a novelaquatic'sediment and pollution monitor.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a sedimentand pollution collecting and measuring device that operates over a longperiod'of time without the need for frequent, periodic visits to thecollecting site.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide anaquatic sediment and pollution monitor including apparatus formagnifying or amplifying the volume'of. accumulated natural materialsand pollutants and for protecting and preserving the accumulatedmaterials from the disturbing effects of organisms and currents.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an aquaticsediment and pollution monitor including a dispensing device forautomatically dividing the accumulated materials and pollutants intoknown time intervals which serve as a basis for the collection, samplingand analysis of the materials.

Still other objects, features and attendant advantages of the presentinvention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from areading of the following detailed description of the preferredembodiment con structed in accordance therewith, taken in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawings wherein like numerals designate likeparts in the several figures and wherein:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an isometric view, partiallycut away, of a preferred embodiment of aquatic sediment and pollutionmonitor;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the apparatus of FIG. 1 takenthrough the center thereof;

- FIG. 3 is an enlarged, sectional view taken through thece nter of thedispensing device incorporated within the structure of FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 4-4 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5- is a perspective view of a portion of the dispensing device ofFIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a diagramatic representation of one circuit which may be usedto actuate the dispensing device of FIGS. 3-5;

FIG. 7 is a front elevation view of a first embodiment of apparatus formounting and supporting the structure of FIGS. 1-5 in a body of water;and

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of apparatus formounting and supporting the structure of FIGS. 1-5 in a body of water.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT a threaded cap 5. The open upperend of housing tube '4 receives and is connected adjacent the smalldiameter end of a magnifying cone 3. As shown most clearly in FIG. 2,the small diameter end of magnifying cone 3 extends into collecting tube6 which is held in such position by threaded cap 5.

Connected to, and preferably made integral with, the upper,largediameter end of magnifying cone 3 is a ho]- low housing 2 whichdefines an entry chamber 2 for monitor 1. The upper end of housing 2 isopen and positioned to receive the'materials and substances 46 suspendedin a body of water. Such materials and substances pass through chamber2' and magnifying cone 3 into collecting tube 6 where they are storedfor analysis at a later time. The rate of magnification is determined bythe ratio of the area of chamber 2' to the area of collecting tube 6.

In order to isolate the accumulated materialsand substances from thedisturbing effects of water currents and organisms, chamber 2' haspositioned therein, at the upper end thereof, a cell-like network ofbaffles 7 of such proportions that the length of each cell of baffle 7is approximately two to three times the width of the opening of thecell. This close spacing of the cell-like compartments of baffle 7causes the open end of chamber 2' to behave as a surface over whichcurrents flow essentially without turbulence at the same time thatsuspended matter moves down through the cells of baffle 7. Suchconstruction substantially increases the accuracy of the collectionprocess. Baffle 7 also eliminates the disturbing effects of largeorganisms or currents inside magnifying chamber 3 which would loosenadhered material and distort the rate of accumulation of suspendedmatter.

Collecting tube 6, housing tube 4 and magnifying cone 3 are preferablyfilled, to the level designated by numeral 8, with a chemically pureliquid brine solution, such as sodium chloride at a concentration of 20percent. Such a brine solution preserves the materials collected withintube 6 as well as .eliminating any small organisms which would collectin tube 6.

According to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, aquaticsediment and pollution monitor 1 includes a dispensing device, generallydesignated 9, for automatically marking, at regular intervals, thequantity of sediment accumulated in collecting tube 6 during suchintervals. According to the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2, dispensingdevice 9 ineludes an inverted, generally funnel-shaped shield 10 madeintegral with the top thereof, dispensing device 9 and shield 10 beingsuspended within chamber 2 by means of a cable 11, one end of which isconnected to the apex of shield 10 and the other end of which isconnected to baffle 7, such as by a hook 17. As will be discussed ingreater detail hereinafter, dispensing device 9 includes a magazine 20which contains many small dispensing chambers 21, each of which containsa suitable, inert marking material 47 having a density greater thanwater. Any one of chambers 21 is adapted to be aligned with a dispensingtube 25 which extends through the bottom of dispensing device 9 and intomagnifying cone 3. By periodically rotating, at regular intervals,magazine 20, the inert material contained within dispensing chambers 21may settle in collecting tube 6 to provide layers of marking material 47between layers of sediment 46.

Referring now to FIGS. 3-5, a preferred embodiment of dispensing device9 includes first and second coaxial tubular bodies 18 and 19 which areinternally threaded at opposite ends thereof. The lower end of body 18is sealed by a cap 15 whereas the upper end of body 19 is sealed by acap which may be made integral with shield 10, as shown. A bulkhead 13serves the several functions of sealing the upper and lower ends ofbodies 18 and 19, respectively, as well as joining bodies 18 and 19 intoa unitary structure.

Body 18 in combination with cap and bulkhead l3 defines a housingchamber 12 whereas body 19 in combination with cap 16 and bulkhead 13define a timing chamber 14. Caps 15 and 16 and bulkhead 13 may includesuitable sealing devices, such as O-rings, to render chambers 12 and 14watertight.

Positioned within the lower end of housing chamber 12, and secured tohousing chamber cap 15 by suitable bolts 23, is a cylindrical housingblock 22. The lower end of housing block 22 and the upper end of housingcap 15 have chambers therein for receiving magazine 20. As shown mostclearly in FIG. 4, magazine 20 contains a plurality of small dispensingchambers 21 which are uniformly spaced around magazine 20, equidistantfrom the axis of rotation thereof.

Referring back to FIGS. 3 and 5, housing chamber cap 15 has a hole 24extending therethrough, one end of hole 24 being positioned to registerwith any one of chambers 21 in magazine 20 for conducting the contentsthereof therefrom. The other end of dispensing hole.24 receives adispensing tube 25 which may ex-' tend into magnifying cone 3, as shownin FIGS. 1 and 2.

A drive shaft connects magazine 20 with a motor 31 by means of a shaftconnector 32. Motor 31 may be mounted on a platform 33 which may besupported by spacers 34 and connected to housing block 22 with screws35.

Drive shaft 30 of magazine 20 has mounted thereon a timing cam or gear36 which contains the same number and spacing of cogs as the number andspacing of dispensing chambers 21 in magazine 20, timing cam 36 beingpositioned between housing block 22 and shaft connector 32. A singlepole, double throw switch 37 may be affixed to housing block 22 in sucha position that the arm 27 thereof engages the cogs on timing cam 36. Inthis manner, switch 37 is placed in one position or the other, dependingupon whether arm 27 is in contact with a cog or is positioned within thespace between adjacent cogs.

Timing chamber 14 may contain a timing mechanism 28 together withcontrol circuitry 29 for use with motor 31 and switch 37. Electricalwires 38 which extend through an insulating seal 39 in bulkhead 13conduct electrical signals between switch 37 and motor 31 in housingchamber 12 and timing mechanism 28 and control circuitry 29 in timerchamber 14. As will be explained more fully hereinafter, timingmechanism 28 may be a commercially available timer or a timerconstructed from a DC clock and batteries.

Referring now to FIG. 6, control circuitry 29 may include first andsecond series circuits 41 and 44, each of which includes motor 31, abattery 31' and switch 37. Switch 37 is connected in control circuit 29so that it alternately closes circuits 41 and 44 depending upon whetherarm 27 is in contact with a cog on timing cam 36 or a space betweenadjacent cogs. Circuits 41 and 44 also include mechanical switches and45, respectively, which are mechanically coupled to timing mechanism 28in such a manner that one switch is always open and the other switch isalways closed.

The operation of dispensing device 9 may be understood with reference toFIGS. 3-6. In the condition of circuits 41 and 44, shown in FIG. 6,neither circuit is closed and motor 31 is de-energized. After a presetinterval of time, timing mechanism 28 is activated to close switch 40and open switch 45. In this position, a

provided by timing mechanism 28, switches- 40 and 45 return to thepositions shown in FIG. 6 and circuit 44 is activated. Accordingly,motor 31 is energized to rotate magazine 20 and timing cam 36 until thenext dispensing chamber 21 moves into position over dispensing hole 24.At this time, switch 37 moves to the position shown in FIG. 6 and thenext cycle is complete.

Referring now primarily to FIG. 2, the complete operation of aquaticsediment and pollution monitor 1 and dispensing device 9 may be bestunderstood. More specifically, dispensing chambers 21 in magazine 20contain an inert marking material, such as plastic granules, with adensity greater than water.- Suspended matter 46 in the water body movesby gravity past baffles 7, around shield 10 and dispensing device 9, asshown by arrows 46', and is deflected by magnifying cone 3 intocollecting tube 6 where it settles as a layer of sediment. At periodic,regular intervals, as determined by timing mechanism 28, magazine 20 isrotated to align one of dispensing chambers 21 with dispensing hole 24and dispensing tube 25. The marking material 47 within the dispensingchamber 21 passes through dispensing hole 24 and tube 25 into magnifyingcone 3 where it is deflected into collecting tube 6. Such markingmaterial 47 settles as a distinct layer on top of the previouslyaccumulated suspended matter 46. Accordingly, after a given period oftime, which may be several months or several years, monitor 1 may berecovered whereupon collecting tube 6 will contain suspended matter 46marked off by layers of material 47 that correspond to the presetinterval of timing mechanism 28. The quantity of suspended matter 46that has accumulated between layers of marking material 47 is thus ameasure of the rate of accumulation of natural materials and associatedpolluting substances so that the present aquatic sediment and pollutionmonitorthereby provides a continuous record of changes taking placewithin the water body.

Referring now to FIG. 7, aquatic sediment and pollution monitor 1 havingdispensing device 9 positioned therein may be suspended by a mountingcable 48 from a cross-bar 49 which is affixed to a main cable 50 andsecured with stabilizing cables 51. Main cable 50 may be suspendedbetween an anchor 52 on the floor 70 of a water body 71 and a buoy 53floating on or beneath the surface of water body 71. Several techniquesmay be utilized to recover monitor 1. For example, buoy 53 may include arecovery hook 54 or a snag line 55 may be connected between cable 50 andan anchor 72. Alternatively, a bottom cable 56 may be connected betweencable 50, adjacent anchor 52, and a known position.

Referring to FIG. 8, aquatic sediment and pollution monitor 1 may besuspended by a mounting cable 73 tube 25 extends from the bottom. ofdispensing device 9 into collecting device 1.

In the embodiment of FIG. 8, timing mechanism 28 is replaced by athermostat. chamber 59 connected to the bottom of buoy 53 below thesurface of water 71. A thermostat within chamber 59 is connected by awaterproof electrical cable 60.to dispensing device 9.

Chamber 59 is located above the thermocline 61 in the water body, forreasons which will appear hereinafter.

Referring now to FIGS. 6 and 8, a thermostat is placed in thermostatchamber 59 and substituted for timing mechanism 28 and switches 40 and45. When the temperature of water body 71 rises, in the spring, thethermostat would close circuit 41 causing the release of markingmaterial 47 When the temperature of the water body falls, in the fall,the thermostat opens circuit 41 and closes circuit 44 again causing therelease of marking material. The two thermostat settings which willcause the opening and closing of circuits 41 and 44 are set severaldegrees apart so that only temperature changes of a seasonal magnitudewill operate the circuit in a cyclic manner. Accordingly, a singlethermostat pair will indirectly cause two layers of marking material tobe placed in collecting tube 6 each year. The actual temperaturesettings of the thermostat pair will determine the month or time ofrelease of marking material 47. Furthermore, the use of two or morethermostat pairs will cause additional layers of -marking material to bedeposited at known temperature relationships to the water body.

It can, therefore, be seen that in accordance with the presentinvention, there is providedan efficient apparatus for magnifying,collecting, preserving and determining the volume or quantity of naturalmaterials sand polluting substances inbodies of water. The presentaquatic sediment and pollution monitor serves to completely replace theinefficient structures of prior art collecting and measuring methods.Not only is the present apparatus more efficient by permitting thecollection of increased quantities of material with less distortion ofthe rate of accumulation, butit has the added advantage of isolating thecollected material from the disturbing effects of organisms. The presentaquatic sediment and pollution monitor, by automatically marking thetime intervals of collection and accumulation, completely replaces theprior art technique of recovering the sampling equipment after eachmeasured time period. Furthermore, the present apparatus, when used inconjunction with a thermostat, will relate the quantity or change of aparticular substance or organism to the temperature conditions of thewater body. The increased efficiency of the present invention makes itpossible to deploy several fixed monitoring stations in the same body ofwater to thereby plotand locate areas of greatestconcentration ofpollutants to permit tracing of the source of such substances andpollutants. V While the invention has been described with, respect to apreferred physical embodiment constructed in accordance therewith, itwill be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modificationsand improvements may be made without departing from the scope and spiritof the invention. Accordingly, it is to be understood that the inventionis not to be limited by the specific illustrative embodiment, but onlyby the scope of the appended claims,

I claim:

1. An aquatic sediment and pollution monitor adapted to be positioned ina body of water comprising:

an elongated, vertically alignable, collecting tube having an open upperend and a closed lower end;

a generally funnel-shaped magnifying cone positioned with the smalldiameter end thereof extending into said open end of said collectingtube;

baffle means positioned adjacent the large diameter end of saidmagnifying cone for minimizing turbulence in said collecting tube andfor preventing entrance into said collecting tube of large organismswhile allowing solids and small organisms to enter said collecting tube;and

means for automatically marking, at regular intervals, the quantity ofsediment accumulated in said collecting tube during such intervals.

2. An aquatic sediment and pollution monitor according to claim 1wherein said marking means comprises:

a plurality of dispensing devices, each of said dispensing devicescontaining a marking material; means for periodically activatingdifferent ones of said dispensing devices to release the markingmaterial contained therein; and means for conducting said markingmaterial from said dispensing devices into said collecting tube.

3. An aquatic sediment and pollution monitor according to claim 2wherein said means for activating comprises:

a conventional timer for activating said dispensing devices after apreset time interval.

4. An aquatic sediment and pollution monitor according to claim 2wherein said means for activating comprises:

a thermostat positioned within said body of water for sensing changes intemperature thereof and for activating said dispensing devices when saidtemperature passes through at least one preset level.

5. An aquatic sediment and pollution monitor according to claim 4wherein said thermostat activates a different one of said dispensingdevices every time said temperature passes through one of a plurality ofdifferent preset levels.

6. An aquatic sediment and pollution monitor according to claim 1wherein said marking means comprises:

a housing;

a rotatable magazine positioned within said housing, said magazinehaving a plurality of dispensing chambers therein each containing amarking material having a density greater than water;passagewayextending through said housing into said collecting tube forconducting said marking material thereinto, individual ones of saiddispensing chambers being selectively registerable with said passagewaydepending upon the rotational position of said magazine; and

means for periodically rotating said magazine to align a different oneof said dispensing chambers with said passageway.

7. An aquatic sediment and pollution monitor according to claim 6wherein said means for periodically rotating said magazine comprises:

a motor mounted within said housing;

a drive shaft connected between said motor and said magazine; and

means for-periodically activating said motor.

'8. An aquatic sediment and pollution monitor according to claim 7wherein said means for periodically rotating said magazine furthercomprises:

a timing cam mounted on said drive shaft for rotation with saidmagazine, said timing cam having the same number and spacing of cogsthereon as the number and spacing of said dispensing chambers in saidmagazine;

stationary switch means for engaging said cogs on said timing cam; and

circuit means connected between said switch means and said activatingmeans for de-activating said motor when said magazine has been rotatedby a sufficient amount, as sensed by said switch means, to align thenext dispensing chamber with said passageway.

9. An aquatic sediment and pollution monitor according to claim 7wherein said means for activating comprises:

a conventional timer for activating said motor after a preset timeinterval.

10. An aquatic sediment and pollution monitor according to claim 7wherein said means for activating comprises:

a thermostat positioned within said body of water for sensing changes intemperature thereof and for activating said motor when said temperaturepasses through at least one preset level.

11. An aquatic sediment and pollution monitor according to claim 10wherein said thermostat activates said motor every time said temperaturepasses through one of a plurality of different preset levels.

12. An aquatic sediment and pollution monitor according to claim 1further comprising:

means for mounting said collecting tube, said magnifying cone, saidbaffle means and said marking means on the bottom of said body of waterand for supporting said collecting tube in a vertical position.

13. An aquatic sediment and pollution monitor adapted to be positionedin a body of water comprising:

an elongated, vertically alignable, collecting tube having an open upperend and'a closed lower end;

a generally funnel-shaped magnifying cone positioned with the smalldiameter end thereof extending into said open end of saidcollectingtube, said collecting tube and said magnifying cone containing apreservative; and

baffle means positioned adjacent the large diameter end of saidmagnifying cone for minimizing turbulence in said collecting tube andfor preventing entrance into said collecting tube of large organismswhile allowing solids and small organisms to enter said collecting tube.

14. An aquatic sediment and pollution monitor adapted to be positionedin a body of water comprising: an elongated, vertically alignable,collecting tube having an open upper end and a closed lower end;

a generally funnel-shaped magnifying cone positioned with the smalldiameter end thereof extending into said open end of said collectingtube; and

baffle means positioned adjacent the large diameter end of saidmagnifying cone for minimizing turbulence in said collecting tube andfor preventing entrance into said collecting tube of large organismswhile allowing solids and small organisms to enter said collecting tube,said baffle means comprising a multiplicity of elongated, side-by-side,hollow cells mounted vertically, adjacent said large diameter end ofsaid magnifying cone.

15. An aquatic sediment and pollution monitor according to claim 14wherein the length of each of said cells is at least twice the widththereof.

l l I?

1. An aquatic sediment and pollution monitor adapted to be positioned ina body of water comprising: an elongated, vertically alignable,collecting tube having an open upper end and a closed lower end; agenerally funnel-shaped magnifying cone positioned with the smalldiameter end thereof extending into said open end of said collectingtube; baffle means positioned adjacent the large diameter end of saidmagnifying cone for minimizing turbulence in said collecting tube andfor preventing entrance into said collecting tube of large organismswhile allowing solids and small organisms to enter said collecting tube;and means for automatically marking, at regular intervals, the quantityof sediment accumulated in said collecting tube during suchintervals.
 1. An aquatic sediment and pollution monitor adapted to bepositioned in a body of water comprising: an elongated, verticallyalignable, collecting tube having an open upper end and a closed lowerend; a generally funnel-shaped magnifying cone positioned with the smalldiameter end thereof extending into said open end of said collectingtube; baffle means positioned adjacent the large diameter end of saidmagnifying cone for minimizing turbulence in said collecting tube andfor preventing entrance into said collecting tube of large organismswhile allowing solids and small organisms to enter said collecting tube;and means for automatically marking, at regular intervals, the quantityof sediment accumulated in said collecting tube during such intervals.2. An aquatic sediment and pollution monitor according to claim 1wherein said marking means comprises: a plurality of dispensing devices,each of said dispensing devices containing a marking material; means forperiodically activating different ones of said dispensing devices torelease the marking material contained therein; and means for conductingsaid marking material from said dispensing devices into said collectingtube.
 3. An aquatic sediment and pollution monitor according to claim 2wherein said means for activating comprises: a conventional timer foractivating said dispensing devices after a preset time interval.
 4. Anaquatic sediment and pollution monitor according to claim 2 wherein saidmeans for activating comprises: a thermostat positioned within said bodyof water for sensing changes in temperature thereof and for activatingsaid dispensing devices when said temperature passes through at leastone preset level.
 5. An aquatic sediment and pollution monitor accordingto claim 4 wherein said thermostat activates a different one of saiddispensing devices every time said temperature passes through one of aplurality of different preset levels.
 6. An aquatic sediment andpollution monitor according to claim 1 wherein said marking meanscomprises: a housing; a rotatable magazine positioned within saidhousing, said magazine having a plurality of dispensing chambers thereineach containing a marking material having a density greater than water;a passageway extending through said housing into said collecting tubefor conducting said marking material thereinto, individual ones of saiddispensing chambers being selectively registerable with said passagewaydepending upon the rotational position of said magazine; and means forperiodically rotating said magazine to align a different one of saiddispensing chambers with said passageway.
 7. An aquatic sediment andpollution monitor according to claim 6 wherein said means forperiodically rotating said magazine comprises: a motor mounted withinsaid housing; a drive shaft connected between said motor and saidmagazine; and means for periodically activating said motor.
 8. Anaquatic seDiment and pollution monitor according to claim 7 wherein saidmeans for periodically rotating said magazine further comprises: atiming cam mounted on said drive shaft for rotation with said magazine,said timing cam having the same number and spacing of cogs thereon asthe number and spacing of said dispensing chambers in said magazine;stationary switch means for engaging said cogs on said timing cam; andcircuit means connected between said switch means and said activatingmeans for de-activating said motor when said magazine has been rotatedby a sufficient amount, as sensed by said switch means, to align thenext dispensing chamber with said passageway.
 9. An aquatic sediment andpollution monitor according to claim 7 wherein said means for activatingcomprises: a conventional timer for activating said motor after a presettime interval.
 10. An aquatic sediment and pollution monitor accordingto claim 7 wherein said means for activating comprises: a thermostatpositioned within said body of water for sensing changes in temperaturethereof and for activating said motor when said temperature passesthrough at least one preset level.
 11. An aquatic sediment and pollutionmonitor according to claim 10 wherein said thermostat activates saidmotor every time said temperature passes through one of a plurality ofdifferent preset levels.
 12. An aquatic sediment and pollution monitoraccording to claim 1 further comprising: means for mounting saidcollecting tube, said magnifying cone, said baffle means and saidmarking means on the bottom of said body of water and for supportingsaid collecting tube in a vertical position.
 13. An aquatic sediment andpollution monitor adapted to be positioned in a body of watercomprising: an elongated, vertically alignable, collecting tube havingan open upper end and a closed lower end; a generally funnel-shapedmagnifying cone positioned with the small diameter end thereof extendinginto said open end of said collecting tube, said collecting tube andsaid magnifying cone containing a preservative; and baffle meanspositioned adjacent the large diameter end of said magnifying cone forminimizing turbulence in said collecting tube and for preventingentrance into said collecting tube of large organisms while allowingsolids and small organisms to enter said collecting tube.
 14. An aquaticsediment and pollution monitor adapted to be positioned in a body ofwater comprising: an elongated, vertically alignable, collecting tubehaving an open upper end and a closed lower end; a generallyfunnel-shaped magnifying cone positioned with the small diameter endthereof extending into said open end of said collecting tube; and bafflemeans positioned adjacent the large diameter end of said magnifying conefor minimizing turbulence in said collecting tube and for preventingentrance into said collecting tube of large organisms while allowingsolids and small organisms to enter said collecting tube, said bafflemeans comprising a multiplicity of elongated, side-by-side, hollow cellsmounted vertically, adjacent said large diameter end of said magnifyingcone.